Russell Westbrook took his mistaken All-Star draft frustrations out on the Wizards

Russell Westbrook showed up for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s nationally televised Thursday night matchup with the Washington Wizards ready for war. Or, at least, looking like he’d already been through one:

Once the game tipped off, Russ promptly set about ensuring that the Wiz matched his wardrobe, tearing Washington to shreds with relentless attacking, ruthless effectiveness and no small amount of panache:

Westbrook leveled the Wizards, pouring in a season-high 46 points — many of them very loud — in 37 minutes of work to lead the Thunder to a 121-112 win. OKC’s now won six straight, and has gone 14-6 in their last 20 games. Since the start of December, they’re 15-0 when they have their full starting lineup available; since Dec. 15, only the Golden State Warriors have outscored opponents by more points per 100 possessions than Billy Donovan’s Thunder, who now sit 1 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place in the West.

Oklahoma City’s rolling right now, and Westbrook kept things in motion with murderous efficiency on Thursday, making 19 of his 29 field-goal attempts, scoring 21 in the fourth quarter alone, and adding six rebounds and six assists for good measure. It was an effort befitting the reigning MVP and newly minted member of Team LeBron for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game … which, as it turns out, might have had something to do with the performance.

… beneath, as luck would have it, Wizards point guard John Wall, whom he roundly trashed on Thursday night. Russ, it seems, noticed. From Royce Young of ESPN.com:

Russell Westbrook asked his thoughts about being picked on LeBron’s team, thought he was the last pick. Informed it was just an alphabetical list, he made sure to correct Melo who was heckling nearby. pic.twitter.com/gPMgPr91Kz

Whatever he might say, and however high his motor might rev naturally, Westbrook has always seemed to go even faster and harder when fueled by fury. And if its source might not necessarily have a strong basis in facts, well, for the Thunder, the ends justify those means. Needling Russ about being the All-Star draft’s last pick, then, might be the most wonderful assist Melo logs this year … and a reason the Wizards might find themselves on the side of those who think the NBA should just televise the draft next time around.